PHYSICS 1

LEARNING OUTCOMES OF THE COURSE UNIT

The objectives of the Course are:
- to provide a conceptual understanding of the fundamental laws of classical Mechanics, including systems dynamics, and of Thermodynamics, with particular focus on kinematics, Newton’s laws and conservation principles;
- to develop some understanding of main aspects of the dynamics of rigid bodies;
- to treat the mechanics of continuum systems (fluids and elastic properties of solids), the thermology and the thermodynamics from a phenomenological viewpoint;
- to initiate the description of oscillatory and wave phenomena and of gravitation.
The aim of the course is, from one hand, to give the analytical instruments that allows describing the dynamics of the most simple mechanical and thermodynamic systems and examining their qualitative behaviour, even through the development of problem solving skill. On the other hand the course will provide the conceptual basis of the newtonian formulation of Mechanics, which is preparatory to the formalizations described in more advanced courses.

PREREQUISITES

- Working knowledge of high school level algebra and trigonometry;
- Differential and integral calculus
- Principles of analytical geometry and of elementary vector analysis

22. Elastic waves
23. Thermodynamic systems and Thermology
24. Ideal and real gases
25. Heat and first law of thermodynamics
26. Applications of the first law of thermodynamics
27. Second law of thermodynamics
28. Entropy

ASSESSMENT METHODS AND CRITERIA

Mid-term exams (in itinere evaluations) in written form and a final exam in (eventual) written and oral form will be given. A provisional grade will be proposed to the students if the comprehensive grade of mid-term exams is above a specific threshold. In such a case the final grade is assigned after an oral exam. The final exam, in written and oral form, is mandatory for the students having an insufficient grade of mid-term exams or don’t giving the intermediate exams.

TEACHING METHODS

Frontal lesson with help of audio-visual multimedial instruments
A part of the course will be devoted to the solution of problems and exercises, under the supervision of the teacher. A selection of exercises and problems for each topics will be posted on the course web page.

8. Dynamics of the systems of material points
Motion of a system of particles; center of mass and its motion; Newton’s 2nd law for a system of particles; conservation of linear momentum; center of mass reference system; work-energy theorem; Koenig theorem for kinetic energy; kinetic energy and reference systems. Variable-mass systems.
9. Dynamics of the rigid body I: moment of inertia and Newton’s 2nd law
Rigid body scheme, density, center of mass; translation, rotation and roto-translation; torque and moment of force; moment of inertia; Newton’s 2nd law for rotational motions; Huygens-Steiner theorem; center of gravity.
10. Dynamics of the rigid body II: statics and rolling motion
Static equilibrium of a rigid body. Rolling motion of rigid bodies. Work and kinetic energy in the rotational and roto-translational motions.
11. Dynamics of the rigid body III: angular momentum
Angular momentum of a particle, of a system of particles and of a rigid body; theorem of angular momentum; symmetry of bodies; angular momentum and frames of reference; Koenig theorem for angular momentum; angular momentum conservation. Precessional motions: gyroscopes, spinning top.

12. Energy conservation
Generalization of the principle of conservation of mechanical energy; work of external forces; internal energy for a system of particles; energy conservation for a system of particles; energy associated to the center of mass. Heat and the first principle of thermodynamics.
13. Collisions
Definition of collision; impact forces, conservation principles; one-dimensional elastic collisions; inelastic collisions; angular impulse, moment of body impulse; collisions between particles and rigid bodies.
14. Short account on special relativity
Difficulties of classical physics: time, length, speed, energy, light. The postulates of special relativity; consequences of the postulates: time dilation and length contraction; relativistic composition of velocities. Lorentz transformations; measurement of the space-time coordinates of an event; speed transformation; relativity of simultaneity. Relativistic linear momentum;